Chinese Malay

language

Also known as: Bahasa Melayu Tionghoa

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Chinese Malay, also known as Baba Malay, is a creole language that developed from a blend of Bazaar Malay and Hokkien Chinese. It was historically spoken by the Peranakan Chinese community in the northern coastal areas of Java, and later in Singapore and Malaysia.12

The Peranakan Chinese community formed through the intermarriage of Chinese immigrants with indigenous women. They adopted local customs and primarily spoke the local language, leading to the development of Chinese Malay. This language served as a common tongue within these communities.12

While historically significant, Baba Malay has largely been replaced by local forms of English since the mid-20th century. Malay, in its standardized form (Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Indonesia), is the national language of Malaysia and Indonesia and is widely used as a second language throughout the region.234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

9 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Peranakan
…as Bahasa Melayu Tionghoa (Chinese Malay). The Peranakan Chinese community was firmly established in the Indonesian archipelago by the mid-19th century and had become self-contained with a decline in intermarriage. New immigrants were rapidly assimilated into the Peranakan community because there was no mass immigration.
Read More
…as Bahasa Melayu Tionghoa (Chinese Malay). The Peranakan Chinese community was firmly established in the Indonesian archipelago by the mid-19th century and had become self-contained with a decline in intermarriage. New immigrants were rapidly assimilated into the Peranakan community because there was no mass immigration.
Read More